Student Chess Players Vs. the White House Staff

by Bladimir Castillo

On Thursday, April 8 1999, several high school students who are
attending Montgomery Blair and who are members of the Chess for
Success Club visited the White House office building to play chess
with a group of senior White House staff members.

Mr. Fernando Moreno the sponsor of the club spoke to Mr. Bill
White who works on the White House staff and he arranged this event.
He got some staff members to play with the students.

At 12 o'clock on the big day, the club members and the White House
staff members met in a conference room that had an interesting
history. From 1965-1969 this room served as the office of Vice
President Hubert Humphrey. During the Nixon years, President Nixon
used it as a second office. During the Bush years, Mrs. Bush used it
as her office.

Each Chess for Success member played with a different staff member
of the President. Camilo Torres played with Jay Dunn. Roy Peña
played with Mona Mohib. Ngan Nguyen played with Bill White. Matthew
Harding played with Jonathan Young. Binh Tran played with Sean
O'Shea. After they played one match they all changed players. They
played 16 matches of which the students won 15 and the White House
staff members won 1.

According to Bill White, "The purpose of the event was to test the
skills of the Chess for Success players against the President's
staff." Unfortunately the White House staff members didn't do well.
"It was a resolving defeat of the White House and a tremendous
victory for the Chess for Success players," added Mr. White.

Mr. Moreno hoped this would help the club members show their
skills. "This experience will expose the players to think positively
towards the future and inspire them to set high goals," he said.

Matthew Harding, one of the students, felt very happy for this
opportunity. "I liked it a lot. It gave me the chance to know the
White House staff." he said.

Ngan Nguyen has won several tournaments around the Metropolitan
area of Washington D.C and is one of the most talented players of the
club. "I felt special," he said. "I will never forget it."

"The students use the game of chess, as a vehicle to enhance the
development of healthy, functional and successful students," said Mr.
Moreno.

Mr. Moreno added that research has shown that chess is an
effective means of teaching critical thinking skills. More
importantly, chess improves social skills by teaching responsibility,
discipline and concentration while improving self-esteem.

"Chess is ideal for teaching all of us that, although we come from
various backgrounds and speak different languages, our minds can work
in similar ways when trying to reach a goal." Mr. Moreno said.